Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the funding, based on the figures of recent years, the €22 million allocated for this year's budget should be sufficient to deal with the applications going through the process where properties have sufficient damage to be fixed. Last year, more than 400 properties were completed and 553 properties have been completed in total. The €22 million should cover another 450 or 500 properties. Last August, additional resources and another €7 million were allocated. If the money to fix the houses is spent quicker during the year we will apply for more money if needs be to address it. The figures are that so far, 553 properties are complete, 201 are at remedial work planning stage, 77 are at tender stage and 242 are under remediation. There is enough money for this year's spend. As the years go on, more houses will need to be addressed because the scheme is open-ended.

The Deputy is probably speaking about properties which have not been approved for remedial works and people who feel they have been left in limbo. The standards are being reviewed through public consultation. When the process is complete we will have a look at it and see what categories of people remain. I am conscious there are people who feel they are being left in limbo because their houses do not qualify for remedial works but the association with pyrite is causing them difficulty. We are prepared to look at this. There are no plans in place to change the scheme. I am conscious of the people in this category and we will see what we can do. The first part is to have the complete the review with regard to the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI.

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